The Secret History Behind Botswana's Flag
Botswana's flag was a statement of racial harmony next door to apartheid.
It was adopted in 1966, at independence, and is credited to George Winstanley, a British colonial administrator. It is a pale blue field with a black horizontal stripe in the center, edged in white.
The blue stands for water and rain, essential in a dry country, and tied to the national motto, Pula, which means "let there be rain". The black stripe with the white borders stands for racial harmony and equality, and also recalls the zebra, the national animal. At the time, it stood in contrast to neighboring South Africa, where apartheid was in force.
The date printed on every Botswana design in our catalog, September 30, 1966, is Independence Day.
Blue for rain, and two colors in balance.
Looking for a gift with a story? See our heritage gift guide, or read the story behind any other country's flag on our free Flag Stories page.